STEVEN TAYLOR swiftly dismissed claims he was involved in a furious tunnel bust-up with Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports suggested the two men had to be separated by team-mates as they clashed off the pitch soon after coming together on it.

However, while it is understood there was a lively exchange of views in the tunnel, the 23-year-old Newcastle defender has insisted he and Ronaldo were never in close contact, and the FA have confirmed they will not take any action.

Taylor said: “There was no bust-up with Ronaldo – he was nowhere near me. I have no problem with Cristiano and I shook his hand at the end.”

Taylor’s touchline challenge on the Portugal international in first-half injury time left the midfielder in a heap and prompted Rio Ferdinand to chase the defender back into his own half to remonstrate with him.

United re-established their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory which plunged Newcastle deeper into relegation trouble.

The Magpies will take some comfort from the fact that they were always in the game – indeed, they took the lead through Peter Lovenkrands’ ninth-minute strike before Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov ensured an 11th successive league win for the visitors.

Midfielder Alan Smith, who started his first game of the season against his former club, is confident Newcastle can beat the drop.

He said: “We showed we have a great endeavour and belief, and now we need to continue that if we are to beat the drop.”